Wisconsin union fight not finished

Supporters of public workers ramp up recall drive aimed at governor, GOP

MADISON, Wis. - Opponents of Republican Gov. Scott Walker were back at work Sunday on recall efforts targeting Republican state senators who supported the new governor's overhaul of public-employee union rights.

Volunteers worked the phones in an office a block from the Capitol, where a day before about 100,000 people protested a law signed by Walker to curtail collective-bargaining rights for 175,000 public employees statewide.

Republicans say the move is necessary to rein in government spending; foes say it is an effort to break organized labor's back and dilute its impact on elections.

"People are dying to get involved in this," said Joy Newmann, a retired university professor who was coordinating the phone bank, where the goal is to get signatures on petitions to recall lawmakers who voted for the legislation.

The fight over the power of public-employee unions to negotiate also is likely headed to voters to decide in Ohio, where Republicans are on track to limit collective bargaining of public workers there in the next two weeks.

The two states will serve as political tests nationally for how the issue fares with the public - either through recall votes or by trying to overturn laws at the ballot box.

In Wisconsin, recalling lawmakers from office is the easier route for voters to register their displeasure. In Ohio, it's easier to challenge a new law by forcing it onto the ballot where voters can decide.

No other state is likely to pass a law this year that directly reduces the power of unions representing government workers.

Other proposals to cut the compensation of public employees remain in several states. In Nevada, for instance, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval wants to cut pay 5 percent for most state workers.